To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 4 March 2008, Official Report, column 2479W, on the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre: Government Departments, for what reasons her Department paid for a room in the QE2 Conference Centre to hold its leadership away day; how much the booking cost; and why departmental buildings were not used for the away day. (252456)

The Government's London estate has limited conference facilities and so from time to time the Home Office and other Departments are required to hire external venues for events.

We are not able to reveal the cost of the booking as this is a commercially sensitive issue between the Home Office and the QEII Centre.

The QEII Centre is owned by the Crown (Department for Communities and Local Government).